About the Animal Rescue Volunteer Project
This Animal Rescue Volunteer project is run by a national non profit NGO for animal and environmental protection founded in 2007 in Portugal. Their mission is to protect and defend all animals and their habitats, by sharing information that stimulates compassion, respect, and understanding of human beings towards all species.
Since 2015 they have been running a Veterinary Clinic, providing medical-veterinary assistance to animals supporting hundreds of families with low economic resources. Additionally, they have sterilised hundreds of abandoned, stray or abused animals.
Recently, their project acquired 27 hectares of land in the municipality of Santarém with the aim to develop an animal and plant sanctuary that will provide shelter to various species providing them with high standards of welfare, and a life with respect and dignity.
This project aims to provide a safe shelter for various species of animals. Here, dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, chinchillas, rabbits, turkeys, and turtledoves, among others, can live a life free from any exploitation.
In addition to this, the project aims to reforest the space and restore the ecosystem with species of native trees and shrubs, in order to promote the biodiversity of local flora and fauna.
The work of the volunteers will be supervised by the team, but it is assumed that they have the ability to be independent in carrying out the tasks after some time, so they will be able to work alone. Tasks are chosen according to the needs of the moment, the number of volunteers available, the time of year and the weather conditions.
Typical Volunteer Tasks include:
- Cleaning the resident animals’ territories;
- Implementation of environmental enrichment adapted to resident species;
- Socialisation of resident animals;
- Cleaning and removal of invasive species from the water lines of the property;
- Tree planting;
- Treatment of flower beds;
- Maintenance of the property’s infrastructure and buildings;
- Drainage system cleaning;
- Bush clearings;
- Forest maintenance;
- Any other skills you can bring would be very welcome!
